Williamson education nonprofit to raise money to hire a director

Matt Magallanes, board president for the Education Foundation of Williamson County, announces plans to raise money to hire a director for the nonprofit on Monday, April 30, 2018, at Puckett's Restaurant in Franklin.(Photo: Melanie Balakit / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

The Education Foundation for Williamson County has raised thousands of dollars to support the county's public schools. Now the nonprofit group wants to boost its fundraising efforts into the millions.

To get there, the group says it will need to hire a director.

Matt Magallanes, board chair of the group, announced plans to raise funds for a "world class" director Monday morning at the group's annual breakfast. The fundraising effort could last one to two years, he said.

"We think that with the great number of students and facilities that we have, we need to be able to donate several million dollars a year to make the impact that we want," Magallanes said in an interview Monday.

More funding could cover grants for education programs, seminars for teachers and even continuing education for teachers in key areas, Magallanes said.

The goal of hiring a director came after visiting several education foundations and speaking with nonprofit consulting firms, Magallanes said. All highly recommended that the Education Foundation for Williamson County attract a director to lead the group.

Magallanes said he recognizes that its new fundraising goal may be challenging.

"So it will be a very interesting transition to see if our message works," he said. "That people will believe enough in the idea that they'll fund us for a year or two and help us get a director."

The director would need strong educational experience or board experience in educational philanthropy, Magallanes said. That person also would need strong public relations skills, operational skills and fundraising skills, he said.

The group also wants to have about 2,000 stakeholders and volunteers for its community outreach program, Magallanes said.